Falkirk Wheel, Boat lift in Falkirk, Scotland.
The Falkirk Wheel is a steel boat lift in Falkirk, Scotland, connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. Two arms extend from a central axle, each carrying a water-filled gondola that rotates to move boats between the two waterways.
The opening in 2002 restored the link between two canals that had been separated for many decades by eleven locks. The construction emerged as part of a regeneration program for the waterways of central Scotland.
The name recalls the shipbuilding tradition of the region and connects engineering with the form of traditional hand tools. Visitors regularly watch leisure boats slowly entering the gondolas while walkers gather along the canal paths.
A full cycle takes roughly five minutes and lifts boats between the two canals over a height difference of about 24 meters (79 feet). Visitors can watch from several viewing platforms, and footpaths lead around the entire structure.
The system needs only as much power as boiling eight kettles because the two gondolas work through weight balance. The visible rotating movement appears slow, yet the rotation lifts more than 500 tons of water and boats at the same time.
Location: Falkirk
Official opening: May 24, 2002
Made from material: steel
Part of: Millennium Link
Website: http://thefalkirkwheel.co.uk
GPS coordinates: 56.00028,-3.84167
Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:54
Navigation locks are engineering structures that enable ships to pass through significant elevation changes between seas, lakes, and rivers. From the Panama Canal, where vessels rise 86 feet (26 meters) to cross the Isthmus, to the Three Gorges Dam in China, featuring five-stage locks managing a...
Scotland offers visitors a wide range of historical sites and natural landscapes. This collection moves through castles that have watched over towns and valleys for centuries, through moorlands and mountains in the Highlands, along lochs, and to coastlines where the sea meets rock. It also includes...
Ochilview Park
3.5 km
Rough Castle Fort
934 m
Falkirk Old Parish Church
3.5 km
Falkirk Steeple
3.6 km
The Milk Barn
3.9 km
Falkirk Library
3.3 km
St Mary of the Angels, Camelon
1.3 km
Larbert Old Church, Churchyard With James Bruce Monument
2.1 km
Larbert Viaduct
1.9 km
ABC Falkirk
3.6 km
Stenhousemuir, Kirk Avenue, Larbert East Church And Hall
3.4 km
Larbert Old Church
2.1 km
Falkirk, Cochrane Avenue, St Modan's Church
3.5 km
Lloyds Tsb Scotland, High Street, Falkirk
3.6 km
Larbert, Main Street, Dobbie Hall
2.9 km
Old Bridge, Larbert
1.9 km
Main Office Building, Carron Ironworks, Stenhouse Road, Larbert
3.8 km
Bainsford, Carron River, Carron Railway Bridge
3.6 km
Falkirk, Cow Wynd, The Tattie Kirk
3.7 km
Carron, River Carron, Weir
3.5 km
Grahamston Ironworks, Falkirk
3.5 km
Dunipace Bridge
2.3 km
Antonine Wall, 495m WSW and 125m SE of Bonnyside House
2 km
Larbert bridge
1.8 km
Larbert, Main Street, Larbert Station, War Memorial
2.6 km
Falkirk, 147-149 High Street
3.6 km
Stenhousemuir, Carrongrange Avenue, Carrongrange
3.1 km
Lodge, Royal Scottish National Hospital, Bellsdyke Road, Larbert
3.5 kmVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes